Once upon a time I was a hardcore collector but I got away from the hobby and I seem to find myself slowly getting reeled back in...has been helped along by reading this forum and others like it so everyone here should bare a little guilt I been buying a few titles over the last few months but have always had in the back of my mind all the comics that I once owned. That being the case I bought a modest collection off craigslist which included some that I wanted and some that I don't. I ended up with a few questions going forward.

A) For my new purchases I am looking for comics well written and drawn and would like to know if there is any titles that are must read? writers or artists who I should always be looking for? (I don't mind superhero stuff if its well done.. I was a Miller, Byrne fan.. or off the beaten path, count me as a Badger and T Truman fan.)

B) What is the story behind all the different covers for the same book, something I should be looking for there? its abit overwhelming so far if my LCS has more then one I just get which ever I find more appealing(and usually costs me a few extra $$)

C)For my older issues I will just get ones I remember fondly growing up and enjoyed then but any advice on unloading what I don't want? I have read the threads on packaging and I plan to pay particular attention to correct grades (some of the online sites recommended in this very forum) but I'm wondering what is best way to ship? media mail or something else?

B0 publishers are making more covers of different rarity to sell more copies to both comic shops and collectors. If you ever see a book listed as a 1:25 Variant, it means that for every 25 copies of the regular cover for that book, they make one of the 1:25 Variants. Some issues they make very rare covers like 1:300 covers, so for instance the Superman Unchained #1 Jim Lee Sketch 1:300 and Amazing Spider-Man Alex Ross Sketch 1:300 covers were both selling for about $300 right when they were released.

DC and Marvel have both fallen into a rut where they're just recycling old stories, putting a little spin on it and calling it a new release. There's nothing really NEW or original coming out from them. That's the big draw for me to Image titles is it is all new material that isn't just a reboot or different version of something old.